Leadership at ground level, not from the top floor

Rigid hierarchies can stifle innovation and create environments where employees wait for permission rather than taking initiative. In these cultures, people are afraid to contribute ideas, fearing rejection or overstepping boundaries.

Kate Davies demonstrates how transformative leadership comes through relationships, not titles. By breaking down hierarchical barriers and creating genuine connections with her team, she enables people at all levels to contribute meaningful solutions. This means building trust through authentic relationships, being present where the actual work happens, normalising experimentation, and celebrating both successes and instructive failures.

This conversation will help you

• Break down hierarchical barriers by building relationships across organisational levels
• Create an environment where innovation thrives by enabling team members to experiment with ideas without seeking permission first
• Invest time in frontline work alongside your team to build authentic relationships, gain valuable insights, and demonstrate that everyone’s contribution matters

Hihglights

• [00:04:29] Staying one step ahead
• [00:06:22] Why being “purely professional” isn’t the answer
• [00:09:24] Empowerment vs enablement
• [00:12:12] “Don’t come to me for permission”
• [00:17:02] What it means to muck in
• [00:21:15] What if this doesn’t work?
• [00:23:00] The case for imposter syndrome
• [00:28:03] The future of the ONS
• [00:35:29] What’s front-of-mind in Kate’s leadership
• [00:36:32] What Fearless Forward means to Kate
• [00:40:13] Takeaways from Sally-Anne

Resources

• Connect with Kate via LinkedIn
• Connect with Sally-Anne via LinkedIn